Walk

We’re inviting you to join the American Autism Association as We Run the Spectrum: Virtual Run! We Run the Spectrum invites anyone and everyone from around the world to come together to embrace our differences, and unite to raise autism awareness. Whether you’re a professional runner, a beginner who’s up for a challenge, or even someone who hates running – a virtual run is a great way to exercise and have lots of fun doing it. Lace up your sneakers, grab some friends and family, and join our We Run the Spectrum: Virtual Run as we not only stand for autism awareness, but run for it! Click here to register.

Get Social

Use your various social media platforms to help spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers, and community. Share updates on your run, and invite others to join your team.

Virtual Bib

Each participant receives a customized bibs that includes their name, and location for them to represent during their run. You will receive this via email within 48 hours of registering.

Running for the Cause

The American Autism Association is dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by autism, and increasing awareness of the varied difficulties individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder face. We offer educational resources, familial support, and free of cost therapeutic recreational programs and parenting workshops for families. Our programs such as Ballet for All Kids, Saddle Up for Autism, and #AutismGoals: Special Needs Soccer Training, deliver community-based sports, recreation, and physical activity programs for children, teens, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The American Autism Association encourages healthy lifestyles, fosters independence and inclusion, and promotes personal empowerment. Now, it’s our turn to encourage you to do just the same during We Run the Spectrum!

It’s More Than a Race: #MyAutismRun

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike a regular race, the We Run the Spectrum: Virtual Run allows participants to complete a race for a cause in your own backyard and to run on their own time in a virtual 5K or 10K. The distance can be completed all at once, or broken up into shorter distances by walking, skipping, running, taking a breezy walk around the neighborhood, or all those steps from chasing your children around – those definitely deserve credit. Challenge yourself and your peers to complete the race by inviting them to join you.

Simply register for one of our virtual run, complete the distance any time and anywhere you desire (even on a treadmill!), and notify our team via email of your race completion. We will mail you a finisher’s medal after you share your results with our team.

Most participants complete their run all at once, but we understand that not everyone is able to complete the 5k distance in one outing. We’re more about providing motivation to help with your personal goal setting, while raising money for great causes in the process.

So set your goal – whatever that may be – and go out and accomplish it! If that means you need to break up your run into multiple segments, so be it. Just track your distance and time each day and send us your totals when you reach your results.

We accept results on the honor system, so you can track your distance and time however you like. The most accurate way to do this is by using a Running GPS watch, but there are also several free smartphone apps available for iPhones and Android devices that you may be interested in.

Once you are registered for the race, you will have the opportunity to customize your participant page with photos and to add a description or story on why you’ve chosen to participant. Then, you can share with your online community that you’re participating and ask them to support you.

Don’t worry – our team will reach out to you and offer tips, advice, and answer any questions you may have when it comes to fundraising.

Yes, definitely! When you visit our registration page – click on “Create a Team” and set up your team page. Once it is completed, share the link with the rest of your potential team members and ask them to register with your team.